Brought about by my recent attendance to the stadium to watch Malta-Italy.
Once upon a time, many, many years ago, there lived a little boy on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean. Every Sunday afternoon, his father used to take him with him to watch their favourite football side. The boy used to enjoy watching the matches and he gradually began to love playing football. He used to play football with his friends wherever it was possible, sometimes even in the empty streets in the quarters where he lived. When he started growing up this boy began fantasising on becoming a great footballer like the ones he used to see on the still black and white tv screen. Gradually football became a passion for this boy. The boy grew up to be a good footballer, not a Messi or a Rooney or a Robben, but enjoyable to watch. And this time it was his father’s turn to go with him to watch the game.
These few pictures tell his story. They go back to between the late 1950’s up to early 1970’s. That boy was yours truly.
Picture 1: With Melita Football Club playing in the 2nd Division of the national football league - first on the right squatting;
Picture 2: With Melita Football Club playing in the Minors (under 18) team of the national football league: squatting in the middle with the ball;
Picture 3: With Athleta Juvenis in the national amateur football league – I am squatting second from left. This was the club I played for throughout my career. We were a few friends and football lovers who created this club which later grew to become a prominent sports club in Malta.
Picture 4: With Floriana Grasshoppers, an amateur club which raised players for one of the best clubs on the island – Floriana; I am sitting on the left. I hurt my back with this club and was 2 months out of the game.
Picture 5: With the football team of the Government Ministry I worked for the year we won the league – I am squatting first left. Back then, there was a football league played during the long lunch break between employees serving in government ministries.
Picture 6: With Naxxar Lions playing in the 3rd Division of the national football league: I am squatting, 3rd from right.
Apart from many other clubs I played for, I had a 2-year stint with Hamrun Spartans, an important 1st Division team – I was regular in the under 21 league, reserves’ league and played a few matches with the first team – no pictures to show though.
Being an amateur player I could sign up with any team I liked provided it was in different associations- for example: with Melita in the national football league and with Athleta Juvenis in the national amateur football league. My week-ends were infallibly dedicated to playing football, sometimes even 3 games in a row.
And that is my story. Today I sit down in front of the tv to watch others playing and only when I fell like it. Hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you very much for looking and for your wonderful comments and the fav's on yesterday's picture. Very much appreciated.
Great story and fabulous collage. I'm very lucky to be able to support two teams from Ireland. As you said the first did well to get a draw, but I come from Northern Ireland so I can support them too and they beat Greece 2-0!
No wonder you have such a passion for the sport having been involved with it since a youth and active in it for many years. Enjoyed these pictures of your years as a football player.
That really is a love of the game! Super images, great nostalgic history, Dione. Love the stripy shirt! Thank you for sharing this bit of your life. Fav.
I love your story- it has a similar path to that of my second son who is now a soccer coach here. Boy would I love to see the two of you talk "futbol". His first coach was Italian and had played for Milan during his career. His trainer played with Jurgen Klinsman on the German National team and then for the NY Cosmos. Christopher loved to play but he loved to analyze and strategize even more so I think he ended up in the right job! A fav for me!
@sangwann I always felt when he was younger and playing that he was better at analyzing the game but all children want to grow up and be the player. It wasn't until he was injured a second time in college that he started realizing that was his niche and he shifted his major accordingly. He is very blessed to have a job he loves doing.
Cool montage of your youth dione